He echoed the message of King, and said King surrounded himself with knowledgeable people.

"These men and women as educated men and women were primarily thinkers,” said Johnson.

He said King pushed for everyone, regardless of their backgrounds, to get an education.

‘Dr. King was a very accomplished man and he recognized that education was a doorway to progress,” said Clemson chief diversity officer Leon Wiles.

Students said finding funding for that education is a struggle.

‘It's not because they don't have the mindset, don't have the work ethic, they don't have what it takes to be a college graduate -- it's because they can't financially support going to a four-year college or the college they want to,” said student Austin Bush.

During the State of the Union Address, President Barack Obama reinforced his plan to make the first two years of community college free for students in good standing. Students could then go into the work force or transfer into a 4-year program.

Students say they know many people who would benefit from that opportunity.

“Some of my friends back home didn't have the opportunity to go to college," said student Jaylen Orr. "Some of them have to work to help their mom and dad. I was blessed to have the opportunity to go to college, learn and advance my knowledge."

Critics of Obama's proposal said he hasn't laid out a clear plan of how student’s educations will be paid for.